Re:Intentional Fire-Spreading by “Firehawk” Raptors in North...
by pathseeker on Friday January 05, 2018 @02:16PM
(#16080840)
You seem to be making a lot of objective claims about things being wrong because they can't be objectively measured. Why can't you use that same reasoning to claim things like homeopathy actually work but we just can't objectively measure why?
Additionally, if these things can't be objectively measured, why are you so sure they are true?
We can't speak to the depths of such a debate, because we can't participate in the debate. It's an (inter-)subjective matter for the animals involved; all we can do as external observes is be objective. But this then leads us into a categorical error: because we can describe a behaviour using objective language, we therefore decide that it in fact contains no subjectivity; eg., is not truly conscious.
We used to mis-apply this logic to so-called "inferior" human cultures, denying their humanity because we couldn't get inside their minds. This was wrong, and led to great evil. Until recently, we've applied the same thinking to animals -- but it's just as wrong. There are a shrinking number of Descartian holdouts, and I guess you're one of them. But all evidence and logic is against you.